The more people I talk to and get to know through my work, the more I learn that it is important to have a connection with people. So many people find it intimidating to even talk to an organizer, never mind work with one. And each day I try to help people overcome that by really getting to know them when they call or when I meet them.
One of the nicest compliments I receive from people is that I am empathetic to whatever their situation is. After teaching one of my classes, one of the students said it was so nice that I could connect and relate to people that were not like me when it comes to organizing. I understood what she meant because the extreme of being organized and not being organized seems so great. And I was truly complimented and humbled to hear that from her.
The reason for this natural empathy is because I am not so different than most of my clients. A larger number of people I work with have some psychological issue attached to their organizing problems. It can be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which in one form manifests itself in buying too many things. It may be hoarding issues, depression or ADD. If you are one of the people who have some sort of issue, don't let it get you down. And don't be afraid to talk to me because I can relate.
The way I look at it, everyone has something. Even I have an issue and I would like to share that with you today because I want you to know that I can relate to you and what you are going through, because I am very much like you. My issue just does not happen to be organizing but that does not mean I cannot understand what you are going through.
My issue happens to be food. I am a compulsive eater. To look at me, you would never know it; some people even tell me I am wrong about this. But I am not wrong, they are. Just because I am a normal weight for my height, it does not mean I cannot be a compulsive eater. The vision most people get in their mind is someone who is morbidly obese but that does not have to be the case. What I tell people is that I am compulsive to what my size allows. Of course I cannot eat as much as a person twice my size but I can definitely eat more than most people of my size.
Food has been an issue for me most of my life and it became more difficult when I quit smoking seven years ago. And the fact that I am married to a baking/pastry chef was no help at that time! I quickly gained 30 lbs. and it took me a very long time to lose that weight. And even though I am almost at my ideal weight again (I've bounced around the scale a bit the past few years), I know that I am not like other people when it comes to food and it is something I will have to manage my entire life.
And I know the same goes for most of the people that I work with. Whatever their issue is, they are battling something. And staying organized may be something they have to manage for the rest of their lives. Most people in this life have at least one battle that is ongoing. So when you think about your disorder or organizing issues, don't be afraid to talk to me because I can relate. And being able to relate makes me more able to help. And helping people is what inspires me to do the work that I do.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and all the best in the New Year!